Door fastening apparatus

Abstract

A door fastening apparatus, particularly well suited for fastening in closed positions the rear and side doors of truck bodies, includes an elongate tubular shaft rotatable to position a plurality of latch members in door locking engagement with a plurality of keeper members. A first latch member is rigidly permanently secured to the shaft near one end of the shaft. A second latch member is secured to the shaft near its opposite end by a bolted connection. The bolted connection permits the truck body manufacturer to cut the shaft to length depending on the height of the truck, whereafter the second latch member may be fastened in place without any need for welding. The second latch member is mounted on the outside of the shaft. A plug member is inserted into the sawed-off, open end of the tubular shaft. The second latch member and the plug member captivate the shaft wall. A bolt extends through aligned holes formed in the second latch member and in the shaft wall, and is threaded into a hole in the plug to form a rigid connection having an appearance substantially identical to a conventional welded connection.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A door control mechanism for securing a door, swingable about an axis, in closed position closing a door opening defined by a door frame, the door control mechanism comprising: (a) a shaft having a first end and a second hollow end;   (b) spaced bearing members receiving portions of the shaft for journaling the shaft on a swingable door with the axis of rotation of the shaft being spaced from and extending generally parallel to the door axis;   (c) means for rotating the shaft about its longitudinal axis;   (d) a first latch member, secured to the shaft near the first end, and having a first latch element;   (e) a second latch member having a second latch element;   (f) means connecting the second latch member to the shaft near the second end, including: (i) a connecting member extending into the hollow end to a location lying alongside the second latch member: and,   (ii) clamping means for clamping the shaft between the second latch member and the connecting member;     (g) first and second keeper members adapted to be affixed to a door frame at locations which are adjacent the first and second latch members, respectively, when the door is in its closed position for receiving the first and second latch elements to retain the door in its closed position;   (h) the clamping means including a fastener extending transversely through the second latch member, through the shaft and into the connecting member for captivating the shaft;   (i) the second latch member having a first unthreaded opening, the shaft having a second unthreaded opening, the connecting member having a threaded opening, and the fastener including an elongate threaded element threadably received in the threaded opening and passing through the unthreaded openings;   (j) the connecting member having a formation which engages the shaft to prevent the rotation of the connecting member relative to the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the fastener element; and,   (k) the connecting member comprising a cylindrical plug extending from the terminus of the second shaft end to a location lying alongside the second latch member, and providing a head thereon larger than the opening in the second shaft end.   
     
     
       2. The door control mechanism of claim 1 wherein the second latch member carries a spacer member straddling the shaft for non-rotatably mounting the second latch member on the shaft during tightening of the threaded fastener. 
     
     
       3. The door control mechanism of claim 1 wherein the interior of the second shaft end and the exterior of the connecting member are complimentarily configured. 
     
     
       4. The door control mechanism of claim 1 wherein the second latch member is positioned at the terminus of the second shaft end and the second bearing member is spaced from the second latch member in the direction of the first shaft end. 
     
     
       5. The door control mechanism of claim 1 wherein the second bearing member is positioned at the terminus of the second shaft end and the second latch member is spaced from the second bearing member in the direction of the first shaft end.